Folding Chair

ABSTRACT

A folding chair includes two side boards, a foldable paper beehive structure, and a positioning device. The foldable paper beehive structure includes a plurality of paper boards interconnected with one another. The paper beehive structure includes two sides to which the side boards are mounted to form a chair body. A plurality of polygonal holes are formed between two paper boards adjacent to each other. The polygonal holes extend perpendicularly to a ground on which the paper beehive structure is placed. The positioning device is made of rigid material and coupled with the side boards when the paper beehive structure is in an extended state to fix a width of the chair body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a folding chair and, more particularly,to a chair that can be folded to reduce the volume when not in use andthat can be extended and retained in a certain width to provide enhancedstability and enhanced safety.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional chairs include a frame or board of a fixed width that cannot be folded to reduce the volume when not in use, resulting inoccupation of a larger space and difficult transport as well as anincrease in transport. Furthermore, the chairs are generally made ofwood, plastics, or metal, which are heavy and, thus difficult to move.

Folding chairs made of metal or wood have been proposed to allow foldingand easy transport. However, these folding chairs still suffer fromheavy weight and difficulties during unfolding. Paper chairs are lightbut not as stable as those made of wood, plastics, or metal.Particularly, the paper chairs in the extended state lack stability andsafety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A folding chair according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention includes two side boards, a foldable paper beehive structure,and a positioning device. The foldable paper beehive structure includesa plurality of paper boards interconnected with one another. The paperbeehive structure includes two sides to which the side boards aremounted to form a chair body. A plurality of polygonal holes are formedbetween two paper boards adjacent to each other. The polygonal holesextend perpendicularly to a ground on which the paper beehive structureis placed. The positioning device is made of rigid material and coupledwith the side boards when the paper beehive structure is in an extendedstate to fix a width of the chair body.

The side boards are preferably made of a material selected from a groupconsisting of wood, iron, and plastics.

In an embodiment, the paper beehive structure includes a plurality offirst through-holes, and each side board includes a plurality of secondthrough-holes and a plurality of coupling holes. The positioning deviceincludes a plurality of connecting rods, a plurality of couplingmembers, and a plurality of bolts. Each connecting rod extends throughone of the first through-holes of the paper beehive structure in theextended state and one of the second through-holes. Each connecting rodincludes two ends each having a coupling portion with a screw hole. Eachcoupling member includes a pressing portion having a length larger thana diameter of each second through-hole. The pressing portion includes aplurality of engaging holes and a threaded section extending from aninner side thereof. The threaded portion of each coupling member isengaged with the screw hole of one of the ends of one of the connectingrods. Each bolt extends through one of the engaging holes of one of thecoupling members and one of the coupling holes of one of the sideboards.

In another embodiment, each side board includes a plurality of couplingholes. The paper beehive structure includes a plurality of grooves eachhaving two ends each of which is in communication with one of thecoupling holes. The positioning device includes a plurality ofconnecting rods and a plurality of coupling members. Each connecting rodincludes two ends each having a coupling portion with a screw hole. Eachcoupling member includes a pressing portion having a length larger thana diameter of each coupling hole and a threaded portion extending froman inner side of the pressing portion. The connecting rods are directlyinserted into the grooves of the paper beehive structure in the extendedstate. The threaded portion of each coupling member is extended throughone of the coupling holes of one of the side boards into the screw holeof one of the ends of one of the connecting rods, with the pressingportion pressing against an outer side of the side board.

In a further embodiment, each side board includes a plurality of firstcoupling holes, and the paper beehive structure includes a plurality ofgrooves each having two ends each of which is in communication with oneof the first coupling holes. Each end of each groove includes anenlarged section. The positioning device includes a plurality ofconnecting rods and a plurality of bolts. Each connecting rod includestwo ends each having a coupling portion and a bracket mounted to thecoupling portion. The bracket includes a first side having a secondcoupling hole and a second side received in the enlarged section of oneof the grooves. Each bolt extends through one of the first couplingholes of one of the side boards and the second coupling hole of one ofthe brackets.

In still another embodiment, each side board further includes at leastone rectilinear groove and at least one outer stop flange locatedoutside the at least one rectilinear groove. The folding chair furtherincludes two armrests respectively mounted to the side boards. Eacharmrest includes at least one protrusion formed on an inner side thereofand removably received in the at least one rectilinear groove of one ofthe side boards.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a folding chair of a firstembodiment according to the preferred teachings of the present inventionwith a paper beehive structure of the folding chair in a folded stateand with positioning members of the folding chair in exploded state.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the folding chair of FIG. 1with the positioning members in an assembled state.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the folding chair of FIG. 1 with thepaper beehive structure in an extended state.

FIG. 4 shows a partial, cross-sectional view of the folding chair ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of a folding chair of a secondembodiment according to the preferred teachings of the present inventionwith a beehive structure of the chair in a folded state.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the folding chair of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded perspective view of a folding chair of a thirdembodiment according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the folding chair of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded perspective view of a folding chair of a fourthembodiment according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the folding chair of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a folding chairof a fifth embodiment according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the folding chair of FIG. 11.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 4 show a folding chair according to the preferredteachings of the present invention. The folding chair includes two sideboards 1, a paper beehive structure 2, and a positioning device 3. Theside boards 1 are made of materials that are not easy to deform, such aswood, metal, or plastics. Each side board 1 includes a plurality ofthrough-holes 11 and a plurality of coupling holes 12.

The paper beehive structure 2 includes a plurality of paper boards 21interconnected with one another. A plurality of polygonal holes 22 (FIG.4) are formed between a pair of paper boards 21 adjacent to each otherand extend perpendicularly to the ground when the paper beehivestructure 2 is in an extended state. The paper beehive structure 2 canbe folded or extended in a horizontal direction parallel to the ground.The paper boards 21 placed on the ground provide support in the verticaldirection. The paper beehive structure 2 includes two sides 23 to whichthe side boards 1 are engaged by bonding or other suitable methods toform a body of the folding chair. The paper beehive structure 2 includesa plurality of through-holes 11 aligned with the through-holes 24 of theside boards 1.

The positioning device 3 includes a plurality of connecting rods 331, aplurality of coupling members 32, and a plurality of bolts 33. Eachconnecting rod 31 can consist of a plurality of sections (three sectionsin this embodiment) detachably connected with one another. Furthermore,the connecting rod 31 extends through the through-holes 11 of the sideboards 1 and the through-holes 24 of the paper beehive structure 2. Eachconnecting rod 32 includes a coupling portion 311 on each of two endsthereof. Each coupling portion 311 includes a screw hole 312. Eachcoupling member 32 includes a pressing portion 321 having a lengthlarger than a diameter of the through-hole 11 and a threaded section 322extending from an inner side of the pressing portion 321. The pressingportion 321 further includes a plurality of engaging holes 323. Thethreaded section 322 can be threadedly engaged with the screw hole 312of an end of one of the coupling rods 31. Each bolt 33 is extendedthrough one of the engaging holes 323 of the pressing portion 321 andone of the coupling holes 12 of one of the side boards 1.

When not in use, the paper beehive structure 2 is folded to reduce thevolume, and the connecting rods 31 are dismantled. In assembly, thepaper beehive structure 2 is extended in the transverse direction. Theconnecting rods 31 are extended through the through-holes 11 of the sideboards 1 and the through-holes 24 of the paper beehive structure 2. Thethreaded portion 322 of each coupling member 32 is engaged with thescrew hole 312 of one of the ends of one of the connecting rods 31. Eachbolt 33 is extended through one of the engaging holes 323 of one of thecoupling members 33 and one of the coupling holes 12 of one of the sideboards 1. Thus, the positioning device 3 fixes the width of the body ofthe folding chair in the extended state and prevents the extended paperbeehive structure 2 from shrinking inward, providing enhanced stabilityand enhanced safety. The positioning device 3, the side boards 1, andthe paper beehive structure 2 can be easily disengaged from one anotherto allow subsequent folding of the paper beehive structure 2, providingconvenient folding.

There are three through-holes 11, 24 in each of the side boards 1 andthe paper beehive structure 2 respectively at three end portions in thefirst embodiment. Corresponding number of the positioning rods 32 andthe coupling members 32 are provided to engage with the side boards 1and the paper beehive structure 2 to enhance the assembling stability.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a folding chair of a second embodiment according tothe preferred teachings of the present invention. In the secondembodiment, the paper beehive structure 2 can be extended to form anarcuate structure. The connecting rods (now designated by 41) of thepositioning device (now designated by 4) are also arcuate and extendedthrough the through-holes 11 of the side boards 1 and the through-holes24 of the paper beehive structure 2 and then coupled with associatedcoupling members (now designated by 42) and associated bolts 43 toretain the paper beehive structure 2 in the extended state.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a folding of a third embodiment according to thepreferred teachings of the present invention. In the second embodiment,each side board (now designated by 5) includes a plurality of couplingholes 51. The paper beehive structure (now designated by 6) includes aplurality of grooves 61. Each of two ends of each groove 61 is incommunication with one of the coupling holes 51. The positioning device(now designated by 7) includes a plurality of connecting rods 71 and aplurality of coupling members 72. A coupling portion 711 is provided oneach of two ends of each connecting rod 71 and includes a screw hole712. Each coupling member 72 includes a pressing portion 721 having alength larger than a diameter of the coupling hole 51 and a threadedportion 722 extending from an inner side of the pressing portion 721.After the paper beehive structure 6 is extended, the connecting rods 71are directly inserted into the grooves 61. The threaded portion 722 ofeach coupling member 72 is extended through one of the through-holes 51of one of the side boards 5 into the screw hole 712 of one of the endsof one of the connecting rods 71, with the pressing portion 721 pressingagainst an outer side of the side board 5 to retain the paper beehivestructure 6 in the extended state.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a folding chair of a fourth embodiment according tothe preferred teachings of the present invention that is substantiallythe same as the third embodiment. The only difference between the thirdand fourth embodiments is that the positioning device 8 includes aplurality of connecting rods 81 and a plurality of bolts 82. A couplingportion 811 is provided on each of two ends of each connecting rod 81. Abracket 812 is fixed to each coupling portion 811 and includes a firstside with a coupling hole 813 and a second side. The paper beehivestructure 6 includes a plurality of grooves 61 for directly receivingthe connecting rods 81. Each groove 61 has two ends each having anenlarged section 62 for receiving the second side of one of the brackets812. After the paper beehive structure 6 is extended, the connectingrods 81 are directly inserted into the grooves 61. The brackets 812 arecoupled with the side boards 5. Particularly, a width of each side board5 is held between the first and second sides of each bracket 812. Eachbolt 82 is extended through the coupling hole 813 of one of the brackets812 and one of the coupling holes 51 of one of the side boards 5 toretain the paper beehive structure 6 in the extended state.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a folding chair of a fifth embodiment according tothe preferred teachings of the present invention that is substantiallythe same as the first embodiment. The only difference resides in thatthe fifth embodiment includes an armrest 91 attached to each of the sideboards 1. Each armrest 91 includes a plurality of hanger pieces 90 eachhaving a rectilinear groove 901 and outer stop flanges 902 locatedoutside the rectilinear grove 901. Each armrest 91 includes a pluralityof protrusions 911 on an inner side thereof. Each protrusion 911 isreceived in one of the rectilinear grooves 901 and retained in place bythe outer stop flanges 902. The armrests 91 can be easily detached fromthe side boards 1 to provide assembling convenience.

Thus, the folding chairs according to the preferred teachings of thepresent invention are light and easy to fold and extend while providingenhanced stability and enhanced safety in the extended state.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. A folding chair comprising: two side boards; a foldable paper beehivestructure including a plurality of paper boards interconnected with oneanother, with the paper beehive structure including two sides to whichthe two side boards are mounted to form a chair body, with a pluralityof polygonal holes being formed between two of the plurality of paperboards adjacent to each other, with the plurality of polygonal holesextending perpendicularly to a ground on which the paper beehivestructure is placed; and a positioning device made of rigid material,with the positioning device being coupled with the two side boards whenthe paper beehive structure is in an extended state to fix a width ofthe chair body.
 2. The folding chair as claimed in claim 1, with the twoside boards being made of a material selected from a group consisting ofwood, iron, and plastics.
 3. The folding chair as claimed in claim 1,with the paper beehive structure including a plurality of firstthrough-holes, with each of the two side boards including a plurality ofsecond through-holes and a plurality of coupling holes, with thepositioning device including a plurality of connecting rods, a pluralityof coupling members, and a plurality of bolts, with each of theplurality of connecting rods extending through one of the plurality offirst through-holes of the paper beehive structure in the extended stateand one of the plurality of second through-holes, with each of theplurality of connecting rods including two ends each having a couplingportion with a screw hole, with each of the plurality of couplingmembers including a pressing portion having a length larger than adiameter of each of the plurality of second through-holes, with thepressing portion including a plurality of engaging holes and a threadedsection extending from an inner side thereof, with the threaded portionof each of the plurality of coupling members being engaged with thescrew hole of one of the two ends of one of the plurality of connectingrods, and with each of the plurality of bolts extending through one ofthe engaging holes of one of the coupling members and one of thecoupling holes of one of the two side boards.
 4. The folding chair asclaimed in claim 3, with each of the plurality of connecting rodsincluding a plurality of sections detachably connected with one another.5. The folding chair as claimed in claim 3, with the plurality of firstthrough-holes including three first through-holes defined in three endportions of the paper beehive structure, and with the plurality ofsecond through-holes including three second through-holes defined inthree end portions of each of the two side boards.
 6. The folding chairas claimed in claim 1, with each of the two side boards including aplurality of coupling holes, with the paper beehive structure includinga plurality of grooves each having two ends each of which is incommunication with one of the coupling holes, with the positioningdevice including a plurality of connecting rods and a plurality ofcoupling members, with each of the plurality of connecting rodsincluding two ends each having a coupling portion with a screw hole,with each of the plurality of coupling members including a pressingportion having a length larger than a diameter of each of the pluralityof coupling holes and a threaded portion extending from an inner side ofthe pressing portion, with the plurality of connecting rods beingdirectly inserted into the plurality of grooves of the paper beehivestructure in the extended state, with the threaded portion of each ofthe plurality of coupling members being extended through one of theplurality of coupling holes of one of the two side boards into the screwhole of one of the ends of one of the connecting rods, with the pressingportion pressing against an outer side of the side board.
 7. The foldingchair as claimed in claim 6, with each of the plurality of connectingrods including a plurality of sections detachably connected with oneanother.
 8. The folding chair as claimed in claim 1, with each of thetwo side boards including a plurality of first coupling holes, with thepaper beehive structure including a plurality of grooves each having twoends each of which is in communication with one of the first couplingholes, with each of two ends of each of the plurality of groovesincluding an enlarged section, with the positioning device including aplurality of connecting rods and a plurality of bolts, with each of theplurality of connecting rods including two ends each having a couplingportion and a bracket mounted to the coupling portion, with the bracketincluding a first side having a second coupling hole and a second sidereceived in the enlarged section of one of the plurality of grooves,with each of the plurality of bolts extending through one of the firstcoupling holes of one of the two side boards and the second couplinghole of one of the brackets.
 9. The folding chair as claimed in claim 8,with each of the plurality of connecting rods including a plurality ofsections detachably connected with one another.
 10. The folding chair asclaimed in claim 1, with each of the two side boards further includingat least one rectilinear groove and at least one outer stop flangelocated outside said at least one rectilinear groove, with the foldingchair further comprising, in combination: two armrests respectivelymounted to the two side boards, with each of the two armrests includingat least one protrusion formed on an inner side thereof and removablyreceived in said at least one rectilinear groove of one of the two sideboards.